Author Topic: LML Duramax build part 6 (Read 75152 times)

Flyin6 · « **on:** June 20, 2019, 07:51:46 PM »

Part 5 sat dormant for long enough so I'll let that sleeping horse rest in peace.

Was just freshening my now eight year old C-Max truck, but like always, I go a bit further than just a simple cleanup. And Ravin8, the 02 Burb has not come out of the shop just yet so I have some time to spend on this great truck which is sorely lacking some TLC.

I started with a fresh oil change using the Delvac. The stuff is cheap, works great, and I feel better knowing there isn't oil in there from the last century. I still use the dual filter thing from Amsoil, but I just use two quality filters on there and change them both.

After that, I greased everything. and used the gun to pump out the old grease. I replaced it with some quality red grease of a marine grade.

The chassis was given to the wire brush and then treated to some fresh paint and undercoating. It looks pretty darned good now.

I had a pesky slow seep from those Amsoil remote filter hoses, so I dismantled all that, added new seals and cleaned it up like new.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2019, 07:54:23 PM »

I started organizing the interior again. I have added magnets in the console and other places to simply hold metal things like keys and the spline lug not in place. I found it to work pretty well for spare lug nuts and spare mags for the Glock.

I added some velcro loops to the rear door frame and now keep the spare fuel can spout inside the box

Flyin6 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2019, 07:56:23 PM »

Then I added some catch-all bags onto each door

Flyin6 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2019, 07:58:27 PM »

The spare tire swing arm and fuel can rack was looking pretty worn. I actually use my stuff and I want to say I have used those cans many, many times to fuel tractors, excavators, and who knows what.

All better now, cleaned and primed then temporarily top coated with enamel

Flyin6 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2019, 07:59:11 PM »

Knocked the rust spots down and shot a fresh coat of paint onto the cans

Flyin6 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:00:29 PM »

This self made piece of angle which kept the door frame solid had shed all its rivets last winter. I drilled out the stubs and shot new ones.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:04:06 PM »

I think those rivets failed because heavy things have been crashing into the doors. I found bent linkages and guy rods. I straightened everything and greased the mating surfaces. It feels like new once again.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:06:59 PM »

^^^ I know, not too exciting. Just pics, man, roll with it.

Now its hard to tell, but I sanded and repainted the AMP Research steps. Using the cheapo Harbour Freight truck bed coating, I got a great factory looking finish.

Funny, but I have literally used all brands of this stuff, and by far the least expensive HF spray is the best, with the best spray nozzle.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:08:24 PM »

Time for the rear bumper to start looking new again. It looks pretty run down and used, and if truth be known, it has been.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:09:53 PM »

That took awhile, but in the afterward, I am well pleased with the results

Flyin6 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:12:47 PM »

Then I replaced half of the lug nuts with new ones. The black is out and the polished look is back for awhile

Flyin6 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:15:14 PM »

This was, of course a TAO (Trooper Approved Operation)

He's the latest mutt to call this place home. He is a breed known to stay close to his people. Well, I guess he must still be looking for them because despite everything I do, he takes off almost every day. I have came to label him as an "invasive species."

Flyin6 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:16:42 PM »

I decided to see if there was any shine in the paint. So I washed off a section and buffed it up with some meguiars glaze. I was surprised to find some shine in there:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2019, 08:18:31 PM »

No, I didn't do the door or anything else, just the quarter and some adjacent parts.

While I had it all shiny, I laid down a new RMTWS decal. We are using the nautical compass as the brand, if you haven't already figured it out

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2019, 09:49:53 PM »

Are you selling big stickers and small? I’d put one in the window of the garage,

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swbhobie16 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2019, 10:12:29 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 20, 2019, 09:49:53 PM

Are you selling big stickers and small? I’d put one in the window of the garage,

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i’ll take one as well

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2019, 10:26:40 PM »

I’m in for a small one

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2019, 11:56:29 PM »

Selling stickers, hmmm, never thought about that. The flag decals are cheap. I can print up a hundred and just send everyone a couple. As for the big ones, I had 10. Destroyed two already. They are not very user friendly...

I put two on the burb, two on the silverado, and Duane wants to add one to his new camper and possibly his truck. That will leave me with effectively, none.

But I can order another batch. Shipping and packaging would be the issue. The big one would need to come in a cardboard tube.

So, how many people want one?

And I don't have them in hand yet, but I am creating a line of message T-shirts. Will be $20 + shipping. Will carry a heavy duty message that takes on (over time) every social issue we face. The retort to the common belief will have the scripture printed immediately below the statement which corrects what is becoming the common belief.

I am ordering 100 of the first message, then 500 more if the response blows up, which I believe it will. This T-thing is what will finance the growth of this Real Man program.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2019, 11:58:02 PM »

Next up, I painted the front bumper. It took a lot os sanding with a #60 grit disk to knock down the existing finish on the Road Armor front piece

Flyin6 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:00:11 AM »

And I dropped out those crappy Warn 350 series fog lights. They are junk and I advise against buying them. All four had a lot of water in them. Only three worked, and all four had a ton of rust on the reflector. Additionally they threw out very little light and I therefore almost never used them.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:01:02 AM »

This cheapo HF stuff is getting to be my favorite of the rattle can bed liners

Flyin6 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:02:28 AM »

This stuff looks really good. It dried hard as iron in an hour.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:04:21 AM »

I put four of the cheapo chinaman LED cubes in the fog light holes of the bumper

Flyin6 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:06:05 AM »

Then i mounted a fifth inside the wheel well facing outward perpendicular to the longitudinal axis

Amd yes, I tucked and taped all the wires up and out of the way

Flyin6 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:07:34 AM »

I pulled the roller fairhead apart to get the rusty roller axles taken care of and everything freshened up

Flyin6 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:09:00 AM »

I figured out that I could stop sime clevis rattle by simply installing a PVC spacer bushing into the clevis pin hole

Flyin6 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:09:53 AM »

The rear bumper is now 100% reassembled and repainted.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:10:41 AM »

The front is nearly complete

Farmer Jon · « **Reply #28 on:** June 22, 2019, 08:51:00 AM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on June 21, 2019, 11:56:29 PM

So, how many people want one?

Id Like a couple small decals. For my pickup and my big truck. When T-shirts come available I would like one of them as well.

stlaser · « **Reply #29 on:** June 22, 2019, 09:15:06 AM »

Quote from: Farmer Jon on June 22, 2019, 08:51:00 AM

Quote from: Flyin6 on June 21, 2019, 11:56:29 PM

So, how many people want one?

Id Like a couple small decals. For my pickup and my big truck. When T-shirts come available I would like one of them as well.

^^^^ Same for me, xl tall size on t-shirt would be appreciated too

Flyin6 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:07:43 PM »

OK, start PM'ing me with your address, credit card number,

social security number,

passwords to your bank accounts

and copy oy your updated will,

making me the benefactor

and I'll get the list started.

stlaser · « **Reply #31 on:** June 22, 2019, 12:41:22 PM »

Quote from: Flyin6 on June 22, 2019, 12:07:43 PM

OK, start PM'ing me with your address, credit card number, social security number, passwords to your bank accounts and copy oy your updated will, making me the benefactor and I'll get the list started.

Just trying to help Ken, does anyone know if he’s living with H or she’s moved into his place?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:35:16 PM »

As a part of my update/reset/cleanup of my 2011 LML, next up I polished the thing. But first, I stuck the front bumper back together. Got to say, that bumper coating that HF sells is darned good stuff. No clue about the long term, but out of the chock blocks, I would be a happee kamper!

So the winch fairhead went back on. I stretched then crushed a sway bar bushing onto each stud to give the fairhead some spacing to delay a CAA (Crud accumulation area) and just to do something different. Then I cleaned the somewhat pitted roller axles, coated everything with marine grease, used new clips and put all that back together

Flyin6 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:36:52 PM »

I polished the whole thing with an orbital. You can see a lot of stone chippage happening like everywhere. Those mall gravel deposits are taking their toll!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #34 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:44:21 PM »

For polishing I mix equal parts of Meguiars mirror glaze, Turtle wax and Nu-Finish with a squirt of the turtle was liquid clear stuff in a bottle and buff the paint while it is wet. You only have to buf until things seem to dull up. That is the materials getting all of the surface whatever off and down to actual paint/clear coat. I thin immediately spray it off, then wash with a terrycloth towel and a silicone based car detergent. Spray off that and KA-BOOM yos has a shine.

I do the entire vehicle like that, then microfiber dry the surface, then finish with a detailer mist, spray and wipe. After that it's back to mudding on the farm followed by a visit to the "Blue Beacon" truck wash.

Now if you have never visited that establishment, and they are all over the US, you are missing out. They change the water PH, pay attention to water pressure, and use a step by step process of chemicals which leaves you sparkling clean. I always have them spray the wheel wells and UC with Rain X, which makes this gooey KY mud rinse right off

Flyin6 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:46:29 PM »

The back side is shot. It has been splashed with years of petroleum products shaking out of the cans and is just gone. I'm looking at a repaint of this whole panel

Flyin6 · « **Reply #36 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:48:42 PM »

Really happy with how the bumper looks after recoating. Some of you will remember when I installed this bumper in 2012. So I got 7 full years out of whatever Road Armor puts on it, but for the past few years it has been faded to a light gray.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #37 on:** June 23, 2019, 09:52:45 PM »

That cheapo HF bed liner spray comes in a gallon for under $40.

Given all the chips and now a bunch of small dents from those mud tires tossing projections onto my bodywork, I think I am going to coat everything below the trim panel on the side from front to back.

I think my plan will be to just rough up with #60 grit and then use a "Shutz" gun to blast the stuff all over the side, nearby dogs and mud daubers who decide to glue spider zombies to my tool box lid!

Shot one down, mid flight yesterday with a handy can of spray adhesive...Ha!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #38 on:** June 24, 2019, 12:42:56 AM »

Don I am looking for some photos of your exhaust on this truck, I’d like to see how you have it routed out the back in front of the rear tire
But I found this

Can you help so I don’t keep digging up ol dirt

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 24, 2019, 11:46:48 AM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 24, 2019, 12:42:56 AM

Don I am looking for some photos of your exhaust on this truck, I’d like to see how you have it routed out the back in front of the rear tire
But I found this

Can you help so I don’t keep digging up ol dirt

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Did you pick that particular pic to stir up some crap?

Just can't leave things alone can ya.

Someone who lives closer to him than me, beat him for awhile, and post pics or it didn't happen!

OK, on a lighter note, I simply used the over the hump tailpipe section and bolted it to the back of the muffla'

I'll get ya a pic

Bonehead!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 24, 2019, 12:02:42 PM »

I am not gonna admit or deny anything but yes a picture or a few would be very helpful

Thanks sir

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 24, 2019, 05:05:23 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 24, 2019, 12:02:42 PM

I am not gonna admit or deny anything but yes a picture or a few would be very helpful

Thanks sir

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Two words: Thin Ice! ;-)

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #42 on:** June 24, 2019, 05:45:15 PM »

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stlaser · « **Reply #43 on:** June 24, 2019, 06:48:52 PM »

Don, I agree with bed liner idea. I however think if it were me I would pony up for the good linex uv protected stuff over the HF brand at least until you’ve had the HF stuff on the bumpers weathered for several years.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 26, 2019, 11:04:00 PM »

Today amongst other things I cleaned out the bed area. Most of the stuff that was not used was removed and stored. We went through the med kit and BOB and tossed things that had gotten wet and checked out everything, replacing batteries and other perishables.

Then I tossed in the cargo space liner and same carpet from the Burb and called that done. The clutter in the pic is a bunch of stuff that is headed down to one of the daughter's homes. It's all gone now

Flyin6 · « **Reply #45 on:** June 26, 2019, 11:06:36 PM »

And I finished the paint polishing, topping with a coat of Nu-Finish wax for the win. The number of good sized rock chips is surprising. Those mud tires do some real damage to paint and body work. Definitely time to get the sides coated

wyorunner · « **Reply #46 on:** June 27, 2019, 12:04:31 AM »

If you’re bored... I have never actually polished a rig, so come on out and give some pointers on the two that currently need it!

Truck sure looks good though!

dave945 · « **Reply #47 on:** June 27, 2019, 02:55:46 PM »

I think you’ve got a great idea, he could drive across the country showing us all how to polish our vehicles. But since he’s short on time, he can start at my house and see how it goes. ;)

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Flyin6 · « **Reply #48 on:** June 29, 2019, 09:48:43 PM »

I may be looking at picking up the load range "E" tires sooner than late in the fall. It looks like I may be better off purchasing a dump trailer than renting it over and over for months to come. We have projects galore lining up here that require gravel, sand, logs, timber and so forth. And its getting to be time to start stacking in firewood for the cold season.

The size of the trailer is what is really critical. Now I think I may have to push all the way to a 16K bumper pull dump-bed and here's why. Although a 14K or even a 12K would get me decent sized loads of materials, I want to be able to transport the Kubota SVL95-2 from the farm to here and back. I'll need to do some earth moving at Casa Harward and if I have to rely on a John Deere tractor, I might as well, just start hand digging, it would be faster.

The CTL with the tooth bucket makes all that a 30 min job.

That SVL95 weighs 11,400 without any attachments and I'll bet the bucket is around 1,000 lbs, making for a total of 12,400. The 14 foot 16,000 lb dumper has a rated payload of around 12,450 which just squeaks me in. With all that load back there, I wouldn't even consider towing with a "D" load range tire, like I have now. Although these "D's" have a rating of 3,800 each, the D rated stuff will not handle the heat and I'll bet they would blow out on a 50 mile pull. So maybe there are some new Kanatis in the future.

The trailer has oil filled hubs with clear plastic hubs, load range "H" tires and 8K-8 lug axles and 5/8" studs on 17.5" wheels.

Nate · « **Reply #49 on:** June 29, 2019, 10:24:31 PM »

So why not get a small size dump truck and use that to pull that trailer and the kubota? That way your not over taxing your smaller vehicles?